Martin O’Neill’s post match thoughts | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill has spoken to Premier Sports following his team’s narrow victory over Falkirk this morning. Interviewed by Stephen Craigan, the Irishman gave his thoughts on the match and he wasn’t shy in admitting his team’s good fortune.

O’Neill said that he didn’t think Celtic played well and that they were lucky to go in to half time with a 1-0 lead, but he was glad the players stuck it through. The boss then praised his side for the way in which they defended set pieces “more than well” and then reiterated that “towards the end we saw it through”.

Celtic’s legendary interim-manager went on to insist that his team can play better and they indeed did on Saturday, but “struggled today.”

“Falkirk made chances and missed them, and we didn’t (make chances),” O’Neill magnanimously admitted. In his typically dry manner, Martin then went onto admit that the performance made for “an uncomfortable evening”.

When pressed for any reason as to why the team dipped so far below their performance levels at the weekend, the gaffer initially said that “the surface (4G pitch) has something to do with it.” However, he quickly put that right by humorously stating that he was “talking nonsense”, because three teams in the league have an artificial pitch and Celtic recently scored four goals on such a surface at Livingston.

To summarise the evening, Martin described the result as “a big win” and reassured fans that “we will do better” (in future).

Moving on from the match, Craigan pressed O’Neill on another topic… signings in this transfer window. The boss said that the board have been helpful and that he has seen more players in the last few days than he has in the last decade! It was suggested that the club are trying their best to bring in new recruits and O’Neill appeared relaxed by claiming that potential signings would have been unable to play in the upcoming European game, and with that trip to Bologna, along with a Scottish Cup clash prior to league duties – the manager feels that the club “have a bit of time” to get deals done. Although, he is very much hopeful of getting players in.

The interview concluded with O’Neill being asked about the Scottish Cup game against Auchinleck Talbot at Rugby Park this weekend. Ever the professional, Martin responded by saying that he has “never treated any team lightly”, but hinted that there may need to be a few changes to the line up for the game.